Mounting of specimens and the like



Patented Nov. 3, 1942 MOUNTING or srncnvmns AND 'rnn LIKE Howard L.Gerhart, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company,Allegheny County, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania No Drawing-Application June 13, 1939, Serial No. 278,923

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to methods of mounting specimens, such asentomological, botanical, zoological, mineralogical specimens, delicateobjects of art and the like by embedment in a transparent plasticmedium.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple and convenientprocess of mounting scientific specimens and the like objects, which issimple in character, admits of viewing the specimens from any desiredangle, admits of prolonged handling and examination of the specimenswithout damaging or deranging them, and which does not unduly affect thecoloration of the objects.

The conventional method of preserving entomological, zoological,botanical and such likespecimens involves immersion in a preservativefiuid such as alcohol. or a solution of formaldehyde. Such process isobjectionable for many reasons. For example, because of the fluidity ofthe medium the specimens cannot be inverted for purposes of viewing themfrom various angles without danger of deranging or damaging them.Moreover, the preservative medium usually damages or destroys thecoloration of the body almost immediately. Obviously the objects and themedium in which they are preserved must be retained in a fluid-tightcontainer, such as a bottle or the like, which usually is notparticularly attractive in appearance and which is subject to risk ofbreakage during handling or storage.

In accordance with the provisions of the present invention specimens ofthe foregoing types,, as well as various objects of art, are embedded inan inert but clear and solid artificial resin. In the process specimensare introduced into a solution of the resin, which is then appropriatelypolymerized by the application of ultraviolet light and/or by the actionof a' catalytic substance to obtain permanent solidification; Resinssuitable for the purpose are disclosed in my conending application filedNovember 23, 1938, Ser. No. 242,127.

In the preparation of the resin, maleic anhydride, together with asolvent and with or with out a polymerization catalyst is admixed withstyrene, and then, after incorporation of the sample to be preserved, issubjected to irradiation either continuously or intermittently to ob--tain condensation into a solid body. In the practice of the inventionmaleic anhydride in the ratio of grams is incorporated with amesityloxide and triacetin or xylol or methyl ethyl ketone, in the ratio of 6cc.

, added a small amount, e. g. a granule of the they are cooled to 30 or40 degrees C.

size of a grain of rice of a catalyst, such as benzoyl peroxide. Thesematerials are heated together until solution takes place, after whichsolution is added styrene in the ratio of 10 cc; After these ingredientsare well mixed they are poured into a mold of appropriate contour, whichmay be of glass or other material. The materials are subjected toirradiation in the mold by sunlight or artificial light at 30-40 degreesC. until the solution attains proper viscosity, e. g., the viscosity ofhoney or syrup.

The specimen or specimens are then introduced into the solution byappropriate technique. Subsequently the solution containing the,embedded specimen is allowed to set at a temperature of about 28degrees C. until it is hard. Hardening may be accelerated by subjectingthe solution to occasional periods of irradiation. Usually it isdesirable to complete the hardening within a period of 2 or 3 days. Thecompletion of the hardening is indicated by the disappearance *of theoriginal greenish tint of the resin. The articles may be retainedpermanently in the molds if the latter are transparent. However, mostusually when it is desirable to remove them this may be effected byheating the body to a temperature of about 80 degrees C. for about 10minutes. Subsequently the body is cooled to zero degrees, in order toseparate the 'resin from the mold. The mold may then be cracked oil? orotherwise removed and the surface of the resin smoothed and polishedwith fine sand paper and wool or silk.

It will be apparent that many variations in technique may be employed inthe preparation of the specimens or objects. For example, resin prior tohardening may be introduced into tubular glass molds, such as testtubes, beakers or the like. It is also possible to introduce thecomposition while fluid into shallow dishes or trays, such as petriedishes, which may be of transparent or opaque material. Irradiation ofthese dishes may be effected from above. It is also possible to employtubes, trays, or dishes formed of artificial plastic materials, such ascellulose acetate, methyl methacrylate resin, or any other suitableplastic material within which the fluid embodying material constitutingthe subject matter of the present invention may be solvent such as amixture of equal parts of r d ed.

To this is- To the The molds employed may be globular or'havelent-icular portions through which theembedded specimen may be viewed.The lenticulation of the surface of course results in magnification ofthe embedded body. Embedding of the specimen in the liquidmedium may beeffected by simply pouring or flooding the medium into the mold orreceptacle, while the specimen is disposed in position. In some cases itmay be desirable' to effect: the pouring or flooding under vacuum, inorder to assist in the complete immersion or wetting of the body of thespecimen by the resin, and in order to avoid the occlusion of bubbles ofair about the specimen. It will be apparent that the mold may first bepartially filled with the medium which is subjected to partial orcomplete hardening, and subsequently additional medium be poured orflowed over the top 01 the initial portion. By this technique thespecimen is embedded at any desired point within the plastic. Thistechnique also assists in the placing of the sample with a minimumdegree of damage or derangement.

It will be apparent that prior to introduction into the embedding mediumthe specimen may be treated in various ways. For example, it may betreated with or impregnated by a suitable preservative such asformaldehyde, phenol, resorcin- 9.1 or other germicidal or protectivemedium. It is possible to spray it with solutions of various resins suchas cellulose acetate, or the like, thereby to provide a thin filmthereupon which upon drying, will stiffen the specimen and assist in itsintroduction without derangement into the resinous medium. A solution ofstyrene and maleic anhydride may, also, be sprayed as a film upon thespecimen and after the film is hardened sufficiently the specimen may beembedded.

Furthermore, it is possible to apply to the sample dyes and pigmentswhich will impart permanency to the color of the specimen or specimensupon prolonged aging. In some instances the coloration of a specimen maybe improved by introducing dye into the resinous embedding medium. Thedye may be designed to reduce penetration of any actinic radiation thatwould act upon thespecimen or tostrengthen or bring out the inherentcolors of the specimen.

The process is applicable to the preservation of all manner of specimensincluding butterflies.

spiders and various bugs, beetles, worms, insects and the like, or tothe mounting of flowers and various other botanical specimens, or to themounting of specimens of animal or other tissue, such as animal organsand muscles. Likewise.

articles or objects or art, relics, keepsakes, souvenirs and photographsmay be similarly embedded and preserved.

The samples after mounting are permanently Dreservedin their originalpositions and may be subjected to handling and change of position atwill and over long periods of time without derangement or damage. Theingredients constituting the resin are of relatively inert character anddo not include reducing agents such as sulfur dioxide, or formaldehyde.and therefore relatively a high degree of permanency or color in thesamples may be expected. However, it will 01' course be apparent thatunder some conditions inherent changes will occur in the specimens whichwill tend to change or impair the coloration thereof. The presentprocess of course cannot entirely preclude such natural changes.However, the seclusion of the air from the specimens reduces the ratesof such change to a minimum.

The forms of the invention herein described are to be considered asexemplary. Numerous modifications may be made therein without departurefrom the spirit oi the invention or the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. As anew article of manufacture a specimen embedded in a solidtransparent condensation product of maleic anhydride and styrene.

2. A process of mounting a specimen, which process comprises submergingthe specimen in a fluid solution of maleic anhydride and styrene in amold of suitable configuration, then subjecting the solution toirradiation by actinic light at a temperature of about 28 degrees C.until the HOWARD L. GERHART.

